System and Method for Distributing a Media Content File Over a Network

1. A method for providing a customer computer with access, through a network, to a media content file, said method comprising the steps of: opening a session with the customer computer; receiving from the customer computer a request to view a media content file; creating a temporary metafile having a temporary metafile name, said metafile containing a network address where said media content file can be found, an unencrypted file path leading to said media content file, and an encrypted name of said media content file; sending to the customer computer the temporary metafile name; said customer computer requesting said temporary metafile to learn the encrypted media content file name, unencrypted media content file path and said network address, and said customer computer subsequently sending said encrypted media content file name and said unencrypted media content file path to said network address; and canceling or deleting the metafile before or at the end of said session with the customer computer.

2. A method for providing a customer computer with access, through a network, to a media content file, said method comprising the steps of: opening a session with the customer computer with an application server; receiving from the customer computer a request to view a media content file; creating a temporary metafile having a temporary metafile name, computing said metafile name based on characteristics of said customer session, said metafile containing a network address where said media content file can be found and an unencrypted file path leading to said media content file; sending to the customer computer the temporary metafile name; the customer computer: receiving said temporary metafile name; using said temporary metafile name, requesting the temporary metafile from said application server; sending a request to said network address to receive and play said media content file identified by said encrypted media content file name and an unencrypted media content file path; and receiving and playing the named media content file from said network address canceling or deleting the metafile before or at the end of said session with the customer computer.